DECEMBER 7, 2018 BY SARAH DUNNWe are having less sex than ever before.According to a recent study done for the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, American adults “had sex nine fewer timesin 2014 than they did in the late 1990s.” This steady decline was clear across the board, transcending gender, race, religion, educational level or work status.In fact, the decline in sex isn’t limited to the United States. Studies conducted in Britain, Australia, and Japan all reflect similarly depressing statistics. Japan takes the cultural shift to another level, where women reported not only a decline in their sex lives but also felt a strong aversion to sexual contact at all. In all countries, married couples had the starkest decrease in sexual frequency, while Millennials and Generation Z were the most affected age groups.

Besides the obvious fact that dry spells are never fun, these numbers also mean fewer people are getting the countless benefits sex provides, including lower blood sugar, a stronger immune system, and improved sleep cycles. It’s so important to our health, a town in Sweden considered giving every citizen a paid hour off of work just to encourage more frisky business.The problemThere are a number of theories as to why this phenomenon is taking place. Anxiety disorders and depression (known to inhibit sexual desire and performance) have never been more common. Technology has increased our accessibility, extending the already lengthy work week to a 24/7 job. Entertainment has never been more readily available, offering passive stimuli whenever we want it. As a society, we don’t like to stand still. We constantly need to do, watch, consume.Problem is, sexy time best blooms out of idle time.According to the prominent sexologist, Nick Karras, the most common reason his clients give when asked about their waning sex life is that “the stress and worries of daily living are affecting their ability to slow down and appreciate one another.” Karras believes that those overwhelmed and distracted feelings a modern life elicits keeps his clients from “letting go and being in the present moment,” two very important factors in ensuring a positive sexual experience.

The solutionSome newbies may think of cannabis use as the opposite of an aphrodisiac, turning what could have been a night of passion into a lazy evening of reruns and ice cream by the pint. But science has proven otherwise; when used with discretion, cannabis can ignite passion and presence in partners. In the past few decades, scientific studies have shown that cannabis users experience more frequent sexual encounters, more intense orgasms, and even a larger number of partners.Frozen in time because of funding and federal prohibition, the most extensive research on the topic was done in the 1980s that proved marijuana use before sex resulted in greater intimacy and stronger orgasms. But with legalization becoming more widespread, many have a renewed interest in how cannabis can affect our sex lives.

In his book, Passionate High: A Guide to Using Cannabis for Better Sex and Creativity, Nick Karras suggests incorporating a small dose of cannabis for increased intimacy:“When cannabis is used in small amounts it can help loosen our analytical minds, giving us the freedom to make new associations and deeper connections in those realms. By using it in a sacred and intentional way it is no longer just another vice for escape, instead, it becomes a powerful gateway to explore and connect.”Can cannabis really be the cure to our modern woes? Maybe that’s a stretch, but when it comes to our collective dry spell, the science is promising. What Karras’s words highlight is that cannabis use and sexuality are different for everyone, and exploring the cannabis alternative for better sex requires intention, intuition, and discretion. “The higher the better” philosophy, for instance, should be reserved for a lazy Sunday on the couch, not when you plan to get frisky.The best way to mix cannabis and sex also depends on the reason for use. Rarely are bedroom antics void of awkwardness. Introducing cannabis can help with a variety of situations that may be tenser than you’d prefer, such as:

Long-term couples who have lost their spark

New partners getting intimate for the first time

People experiencing pain during sex

Women with difficulty achieving orgasm

Men with trouble ejaculating too quickly

Partners with mismatched libidos

Elderly couples looking to reignite their passion

People experiencing body dysmorphia, depression or other social anxieties that inhibit sexual desire and performance

The scienceWomen report better orgasms. Men report feeling more connected to their partner. Why?Much like love, cannabis elicits a chemical reaction. Cannabis contains a number of chemical compounds called cannabinoids. Our bodies have built-in receptors for these cannabinoids, which are present in the brain, nervous system, and even sexual organs.When the cannabinoid, THC, binds with these receptors, you experience the euphoric high (in both brain and body) associated with cannabis. Some of the most common side effects of cannabis consumption are a perceived slow down in time, sensitive tactile functions (touch), and stress reduction. All of these symptoms contribute to a better sexual experience.Take some of the other classic benefits of cannabis: pain reduction, mitigating trauma, and bringing awareness into the present. All of these side effects can help restore sexual capacity.According to Karras cannabis also “increases blood flow and circulation which further activates all of the many senses.” When we spoke to Karras, he made it clear that “sensuality leads to sexuality,” so activating all of the senses is more important than most couples consider.

The seriesBut what does “sensuality leads to sexuality” really mean? Where is the line between intimate, mindblowing sex and stoned, dull sex? And how does cannabis compare to other sex drugs on the market?Clearly, the topic of introducing cannabis into the bedroom is as complex as the plant itself. But don’t fret: we’ll answer all these questions and more in our new series about sex and cannabis.In our ongoing series, we will navigate the complexities of properly introducing cannabis into the bedroom, from the how and why to the what and where. Along the way, we will consult our trusted friend and renowned sexologist, Nick Karras. His insight can also be found in his critically acclaimed books, Petals and The Passionate High. Join us as we explore exactly how your favorite plant can spice up your sex life, not leave you high and dry.

As a counseling sexologist and cannabis coach, I see couples from all walks of life working through a myriad of issues relating to sex and love. Most often I hear they have lost desire or connection with their partner, and are unsure about how to restore passion and intimacy. This commonly occurs because of the stress and distractions of daily life—they have trouble letting go of it all, living in the present.

Let's be honest: sometimes having sex can be a chore. Couples over the span of time have sought ways to un-chore their sex lives, trying everything from known aphrodisiacs like oysters, dark chocolate and red wine, to lubes, sultry lingerie, role play, etc., ad nauseum. Practically, every magazine and website has a column dedicate to spicing up your sex life, each piece of advice seeming to contradict the other. And forget about the legions of books showing acrobatic sex positions only a contortionist could pull off, but is, they premise, a sure-fire guarantee to a mind-blowing orgasm. But what if finding intimate time with your partner is really the last thing on your mind?

The last time I got high, I woke up on my couch with an empty jar of Nutella in my hand—so that was the last time I got high. You know what I mean?But it’s very likely I haven’t been doing it right: A growing number of women are turning to cannabis in states where it’s legal to improve their sex lives—and in some cases, experience sexual pleasure for the very first time.

Dr. Nick Karras is a practicing sexologist and author of The Passionate High: A Lovers Guide to Cannabis, the book for couples who seek to improve their relationship using one of humanity’s oldest herbal aphrodisiacs. “I was a hippy during the 60s,” Dr. Karras said. “I’ve lived a very sexual lifestyle. I was always fascinated by the body and sexuality.” Dr. Karras makes a living as a coach for men and women who want to connect (or re-connect) in new ways, but his book isn’t just about smoking cannabis and getting laid, it’s about overcoming inhibitions and establishing deeper relationships.“Cannabis is great for enhancing your imagination and increasing your empathy.”

A fulfilling sex life is an integral part of whole-being health and wellness. And cannabis, the whole-body healer, is considered a major player in the field of sexual medicine.

While nothing beats great sex, people are battered when it comes to love and intimacy. Women often suffer with body issues and repression; men often deal with erectile dysfunction and performance anxiety. Many people have been involved in sexual abuse or trauma. These realities have a profound impact on the emotional, physical, and mental stability of an individual, as well as our collective culture.

"The skin becomes an object of affection," Evan*, a man in his 30s, said."I felt like one with my partner," Sharon said."I definitely felt heightened sensations," Athena toldElephant Journal.

No, it isn't a new innovative sex toy or a newly released porn all three were watching — they're talking about having sex while high. As smoking weed becomes an ever-present and accepted force in our culture, we're hearing more and more about how weed and sex can work in tandem. And we're getting smarter about how we can leverage it.

But if you’re like many young people, your only exposure to the sticky-icky has been in college or at parties, where you’ve smoked other people’s joints and hit off other people’s bongs.So, if you live in a state where pot is legal, how do you bring weed into the bedroom if you’re not sure how to get the green stuff from the bag into your body without just eating it? (Please, don’t do that.) Let our beginner’s guide lead the way.

Weed’s got a dirty little secret: It holds the power to transform our sex lives. Our ancient ancestors believed it (hello, tantric sex rituals), researchers in the 70s and 80s tried to prove it, and today, savvy “potrepreneurs” are attempting to capitalize on it. Cannabis-laced lube is only the beginning.

What can pot do in bed? With the right strain and dosage, it can slooow down time, making every touch feel more intense, every kiss more passionate. For some people with sexual dysfunctions, it can make the unreachable reachable. And as with medical marijuana, those who stand to benefit extend beyond, say, whoever’s signing up for that new dating app for pot lovers.